WORLD CUP SOCCER MATCH-UP
TESTS LOYALTIES
Published on June 15, 2002
© 2002- The Press Democrat
BYLINE: GEORGE
LAUER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A dilemma of international proportions threatens to strain
relations in North Coast households over the next couple of days.
The United States and Mexico meet in the second round of the
World Cup soccer tournament early Monday morning in South Korea,
Sunday night Pacific time. The showdown forces soccer fans who have
leanings in both directions to choose sides.
``I'm going to wear my Mexican jersey and a Yankee Doodle hat,''
said Monica Flores Rowley of Santa Rosa. ``My parents come from
Mexico and that's my heritage, but I'm American, so this is a tough
one. I guess if I'm forced to pick one, I'm rooting for Mexico.''
Her husband, Andrew Rowley, is rooting for the United States.
``Yeah, things might get a little tense around the dinner table,
but we'll work it out,'' Rowley said.
Salvador Sahagun, coach of a national championship soccer team in
Santa Rosa and host of a sports show on Spanish language radio
station KTOB, faces a similar dilemma.
``I'm a U.S. citizen, but I was born in Mexico, so I have mixed
feelings,'' said Sahagun, who owns six restaurants in Sonoma County.
``It's a hard thing to choose,'' he said. ``This country has
given me everything I have and I love it, but I'm rooting for Mexico
because that's what I've been doing all my life. And if it was hard
for me, it's even harder for my kids. They're really confused.''
Sahagun has four children, and three play soccer.
'`They really don't know which way to go and they keep asking me,
but I tell them they have to figure it out for themselves,'' Sahagun
said.
Neither Mexico nor the United States is considered a powerhouse in
international soccer, so for both to advance to the second round in
the most important tournament in the world is notable.
The two teams play Monday morning in South Korea. The game will
be broadcast live at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Pacific time.
``And you can be sure, there will be a lot of people around here
staying up late to watch it,'' Sahagun said.
Historically, soccer was one arena in which Mexico surpassed its
larger, richer, more powerful neighbor to the north. But that has
changed in recent years. Until 1980, U.S. soccer teams had not
beaten Mexico in 20 years, but since then the two national teams
have played about even against each other. They split their two
games in World Cup qualifying rounds this year.
``I have to say, though, the Mexican team looks like it's playing
better, with more intensity than the U.S. right now,'' said Juan
Plancarte before a pickup soccer game Friday at Sports City
indoor soccer facility in Santa Rosa.
Plancarte, from Michoacan, Mexico, now an employee at Agilent
Technologies in Santa Rosa, said his heart is on the Mexican side.
``I do have mixed feelings,'' he said. ``I live here now and I
have allegiance to this country, but I'll be rooting for Mexico.''
Plancarte is one of several international ``soccer junkies'' who
play lunchtime pickup games Tuesdays and Fridays at Sports City.
``We have a lot of countries represented out there,'' Plancarte
said, ``including a few World Cup countries.''
Friday's game included players from Japan, Italy, Norway,
Argentina, Mexico and, of course, the United States. Many, but not
all, are Agilent employees.
``The international players are here to teach the Americans how
to play the game,'' said Ricardo Giacometti from Florence, Italy,
grinning as he spoke.
The Rowleys, who own Sports City indoor soccer
complexes in Santa Rosa and Cotati, said the World Cup is sparking
interest in the sport here.
``But it's still nothing like it is elsewhere in the world,''
Andrew Rowley said.
``My father's English, and he said one of every four workers in
London didn't show up for work when England played last. He said he
was ashamed of the other three who did go to work,'' Rowley said.
The tournament in general and Mexico's advancing to the second
round in specific ``will mean a lot more to the Latino community
around here than to any other group,'' Sahagun said.
``This is a very active area for Latino soccer teams and you can
be sure there will be a lot of interest in what happens next in the
World Cup,'' he said.
You can reach Staff Writer George Lauer at 521-5220 or glauer@pressdemocrat.com.
PHOTO: 1 by JEFF KAN LEE / The Press Democrat
Juan Plancarte, who is from Mexico and now lives in St. Helena,
explains his divided allegiance for the upcoming World Cup soccer
game between Mexico and the United States. |
